The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-22
PRUSSIA AND THE POPE.
THE LOWER HOUSE OF THE DIET
BEGINS THE DEBATE.

Herr Windthorst Explains the Atti-
tude of the Centre Party on the Bill
Bismarck Threatens to Abandon
His Office as President of the Prus-
sian Ministry if the Bill is Defeated.
BERLIN, April 21-The debate on the
ecclesiastical bill was begun in the lower
house of the PrusSan Diet to-day. Herr
Windtholst, the clerical leader, declared
that the Centre party would submit to the
Pope's wishes and would vote for the bill as
it passed the upper house and without offer
ing any of the amendments which the Centre
had intended to propose as necessary to
make the bill entirely acceptable to the
Catholics of Germany The Centre party,
Herr Windthorst added, would renew the
fight against the government if at any time
the Catholic interests were affected.
Prince Bismarck declared that if the bill
was rejected he would abandon his office as
President of the Ministry of State for Prus-
sia and devote his entire time to the service
OF the empire. LAS perhdpSn he said, "a
hard external and internal struggle against
the revolutionary party is imminent, | de-
sire first to settle all unnecessary internal
disputes
JIeII uI6 ullt DeCdllSc,
he said, the provisions regarding the right
of confirmation and protest by the state in
ecclesiastical appointments would promote
servility. He protested against the action
of the Pope in interfering in the elections
for membership in the Reichstag.
BIsMARCK's REPLY.
Prince Bismarck declared that Herr Rich
ter was more Catholic than the Pope, and
added: ut must be admitted that in the
eyes of the German Catholics the papacy is
no foreign institution. The result of the
elections would have been the same with or
without the opposition of the Centreists
The result of the election was not the out
come of an anxiety by the expression of aspi-
ration or the attitude of the opposition under
Herr Richter. The point at issue was not TO
combat a political group, but to secure the
preservation of the empire from injury, and
that | desired to form u majority for
myself was quite natural All national
parties should endeavor to meet the Curia
as far as it was compatible with State
rights. This is feasible by adopting the
present bill as it has passed the Oberhaus
Notifications viii increase the governments
arduOus task. In all phases of the Kultur-
kampf | acted i'll accordance with my politi-
cal convictions. The bill comedies nothing
that will endanger the states authority"
DIshIARCK's SOURCE OF POWER
Prince Bismarck then appealed to the
members of the national parties to not re
ject the bill. The moment was favorable
for conclusion of peace in the religious
war that had so long been waged in Ger
many. He declared that considerable por-
ton of his influence in Europe rested ON the
confidence manifested in his political hon
esty and triIstworthiness by the representa-
tives of the German people
Herr Virchow opposed the bill as meas
ure tending TO strengthen the Pope's bier
archical power.
Prince Bismarck in reply to this observed
that Herr Virchow opposed him as a matter
Of principle on all great questions. 81
never" said the Prince, described the May
laws as final institution, but always as
laws of combat, as is now the case with the
anti-Socielist law. have solely striven TO
satisfy the lovers of peace among the
Catholics / never aimed to keep portion
of my fellow citizens under permanent
pressure"
Herr Won Gerlach expressed approval of
the bill, coupled with a wish that greater
independence might be granted the Evan
gelic church. The debate was then adj
journed until tomorrow.
ACCUSED OF IGNORANCE.
In refuting Herr Richter's statements as
to the Pope's meddling in the recent cleo
tions, Prince Bismarck remarked that Herr
Richter apparently did not even read
the papers which he himself wrote or in
spired, or he would know that in French
political circles Russas attitude was very
carefully watched and that even with
most of the Nationalist papers of Russia the
question whether France would be friend
or enemy in the event of the adoption Of
any particular policy played very inn
portant part
ENGLAND AND THE VATICAN.
Herr Richter, continued the Chancellor,
had referred to England with great EN-
phasis, which was all very well if his refer
ences were correct, but before emphasizing
them he ought TO have understood the po-
litical situation and recent events there
Prince Bismarck further said there was but
little doubt that England had a strong desire
to obtain the Pope's support, first against
the Fenians and later against the Parneilites,
and indeed no secret had been made of the
fact.